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SOCHI, RUSSIA — Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in a breathtaking start, and the Russians went on to beat Slovenia, 5-2, today in their Sochi Olympics opener.

Ovechkin scored 1:17 after the puck dropped with a wrist shot that made the crowd roar. The superstar made the flag-waving fans gasp in awe 2:37 later with a drop pass to set up Evgeni Malkin’s goal that gave Russia a 2-0 lead.

Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings, Russia’s captain, had one shot on goal in 15 minutes of ice time. He was minus-1.

Speaking through an interpreter, Russia coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said "Pavel is having a difficult time, still," with his lower-body injury.

The Slovenians were respectable for two-plus periods in their first Olympic hockey game ever.

Ziga Jeglic had two goals in the second period — one before Evgeni Malkin scored and one after — to pull Slovenia within a score of a talented team.

Russia created a cushion in the first half of the third period when Valeri Nichushkin and Anton Belov.

When the game was over, the team that is treated like rock stars in its country raised their sticks and got a standing ovation.

More than 11,000 fans filled the Bolshoy Ice Dome ready to party, chanting “Ro-ssi-ya! Ro-ssi-ya!” before the game even started. They screamed the home nation’s chant early and often during the game and did the wave when the only question was how much Russia would win by against an overmatched team.

Datsyuk called it an “unbelievable” atmosphere.

“I would like to say thank you to our fans,” he said. “They helped us.”

Slovenia has only one NHL player, Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, whose father is the team’s coach. Jeglic plays professionally in Germany.

Canada 3, Norway 1: Shea Weber and Jamie Benn scored in the second period to help Canada shake off a sluggish start today, helping the defending Olympic champions beat Norway.

Patrick Thoresen redirected a shot in front of the net to pull the Norwegians within a score on a power play 22 seconds into the third. Drew Doughty restored the two-goal lead 1:25 later in the period.

Canada’s Carey Price made 19 saves in his Olympic debut. Duncan Keith (Michigan State) had an assist for Canada. Chris Kunitz (Ferris State) had two shots on goal.

Lars Haugen made 35 saves for the Norwegians. Former Grand Rapids Griffin Ole-Kristian Tollefsen had three shots on goal.